Use of alternative product in patients with chronic viral hepatitis

Objectives: Some of the patients with chronic hepatitis use both alternative product and/or antiviral treatment. These herbal products sometimes lead to clinical deterioration. In this study we aimed to determine the purpose of alternative product utilization and rate among the chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and C (CHC) patients.\udMethods: This prospective cohort study included 200 consecutive adult patients with chronic hepatitis B and C at the Department of Infectious Diseases, Ondokuz Mayis University, between 1 March 2012 and 30 July 2012. At enrollment, clinical information, demographics, laboratory variables and knowledge about alternative products were recorded.\udResults: Of the patients 150 had CHB, 50 had CHC. 54% of patients were male. Use of alternative products was 26%.\udAntiviral treatment rate was 48.5% for all patients. The most used alternative products were artichoke extract and honey. 67.3% of patients were using single alternative product whereas the others were using two or more alternative products. 46.2% of patients who use alternative product provided information about the alternative product usage, but the others did not.\udConclusions: Majority of patients used alternative products. More than half of these patients did not give information to their physicians about their use of alternative medicine. Use of alternative product should be asked in all patients with chronic hepatitis. Herbal product usage was detected in majority of patients and also approximately half of these patients did not give\udinformation to their doctors about taking alternative medicine. In conclusion, it is necessary to take detailed information\udabout herbal product usage in patients with chronic hepatitis.\udJ Microbiol Infect Dis 2014; 4(3): 102-10